The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-22
And the Measure Now Awaits the Signature
of the President-The Law to Take Effect
Sixty Days from Date Of Its Passage.
The Wife of Senator Voorhees, Suddenly
Expires After a Few Days Illness.
Women Refused Admittance to the Court
in Which the Emmons Case Is Being Heard
Other Items of Washington News.
THE RAILWAY LAW.

THE RAILWAY LAW.
Provisions of the Interstate Commerce hin
as Passed by the Two Houses of Congress.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2l-The interstate COM
merce bill. as agreed upon by both houses Of
Congress, in its first section applies the prcyis-
ions of the act to any common carrier engaged
in the transportation of passengers wholly by
railroad, or partly by railroad and partly by
water, when both are used under common coz
troll, management or arrangement, through more
than one State or Territory, or from any place
in the United States to any adjacent foreign
country. It defines the term railroad to in
clude all bridges and ferries used or operated by
any railroad. All charges made for any service
rendered in tie transportation of passengers
property shall be reasonable, and every unjust
and unreasonable charge for such service is pro-
hibited and declared to be unlawful
Section makes it unlawful for any common
carrier subject to the provisions of this act to
charge, demand. collect or receive directly or
indirectly, from any person or persons greater
or less compensation for any service rendered In
the transportation of passengers or property
than it charges or demands. collects or receiveE
from any other person or persons for doing for
him or them like and contemporaneous service
in the transportation of like kind OF traffic un
der substantially similar circumstances and con-
ditions
Section makes it unlawful for any common
carrier subject to the provisions of this act, to
make or give any undue unreasonable prefer
ence or advantage to any particular person, COM
pany, firm corporation or locality, or any par
ticular description of traffic. Every common
carrier subject TO sthe provisions of this act
shall, according to their respective powers, af-
| ford all reasonable, proper and equal facilities
| for the interchange of traffic between their re-
spective lines, and for the receiving, forwarding
and delivering of passengers and property to and
| from their several lines and those connecting
| Herewith, and shall not discriminate in their
rates and charges between such connecting lines.
| Sections and 5 (the long-and shorthaul and
pooling sections) are as follows
Section A. That it shall be unlawful for any COM
carrier subject to the provisions of this act to
charge receive any greater compensation in the ag
gregate for the transportation of or Of
like kind of property under substantially similar cir
cunstances and for shorter than for long
distance the line in the direction
the shorter being included within the longer dstancA
| but this shall not be construed authorizing any
common carrier within the terms of this act to charge
and receive great compensation for shorter for
longer distance; provided however that upon appli-
cation to the commission appointed under the pro.
cial cases. after investigation by the commission be
authorized TO charge less for longer than for shorter
distances for the transportation of passengers prop
erty; and the commission may, from time to time
scribe the extent to which such designated common
carriers ay be relieved from the operations of this
section of this act.
Sec. g. That it shall be unlawful for any comm on
carrier subject to the provisions of this act to enter
into any contract agreement combination with any
other common carrier carriers for the pooling of
freight of different and competing railroads. or to
divide between them the aggregate net proceeds of
the earnings of such railroads any portion thereof
| and in any of agreement for the pooling OF
| freights aforesaid, eaGf Gay Of its continuance
| shall be deemed separate offense.
Section requires that after ninety days from
the passage of the act every common carrier
| subject to its provisions shall have printed, and
keep for public inspection, schedules showing
rates, fares and charges, and in addition to re-
quiriDg the railroads to give publicity at all of
the depots their several lines. it gives author
| ty to the commission, where it is proper and
necessary to require them to i've publicity to
their rates to other places beyond the lines Of
their several railroads. 1t also provides that the
rates, fares and charges shall not be raised ex-
cept after ten days of public notice, but that
they may be reduced without previous public
notice; the notice, however, shall be simultane-
Gus with the reduction itself
Section makes it unlawful for any common
carrier enter into any combination agreement
to prevent the carriage of freights from being
continuous from the place OF shi pment to the
place of destination.
Section 8 declares that any common carrier
violating the provisions of the act shall be liable
to the person or persous injured thereby for the
l full amount of damages sustained in consequence
of any such violation, together with reasonable
counsel or attorneys fee.
The ninth section provides that persons claim
ing to have been damaged by the action of com.
damages. either in the courts of the United
States or before the commission herein provided
for. but not before both tribunals
The tenth section makes it penal offense to
violate any of the provisions of this act, and puts
the maximum of the fine which may be imposed
at the sum of 1000
The eleven following sections contain the conn
mission features of the bill. They provide for a
commission to consist of five persons whose
term of Office shall be for six years, except for
the first appointments, which to be for two.
three, four, five and six years. The members or
this commission are to be appointed by the Pres
ident, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate Their principal office shall be in Wash
ington, but they may hold sessions at other
places than Washington, and single member of
the commission may take testimony anywhere.
: as may be directed by the commission. These
| commissioners have salaries of s., 900 each. The
| commission has the power to appoint a secretary
with an annual salary of So 500, and has author
: ity to employ and fix the compensation of such
other employees as 1t may find necessary to the
proper performance of its duties subject to the
approval of the Secretary of the Interior.
Section % provides that nothing contained IL
this act shall abridce the remedies now existing
at common law'or by statute.
Section % appropriates 900 for the pur
poses of this act for the fiscal year ending june
30 1888.
7 Section "a provides that tho provisions of Sec
tions IL and l8 of this act. relating to the ap
pointment and organization of the commission
herein provided for, shall take effec: immediate
ly. and the remaining provisions Of this act shall
| take effect sixty days after its passage.
| --0----
DEATH OF MRS. VOORHEES,.
l